How to help in a mental health crisis: Community Mental Health offers free trainings

Friday

May 9, 2014 at 9:26 PM

Mental Health First Aid will be offered May 21-22; Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training will be offered May 29-30.

Staff Reports

Sixty million Americans — 1 in 4 adults — experience a mental health disorder in a given year, according to the National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI). One in 17 lives with a serious mental illness such as schizophrenia, depression or bipolar disorder, and about 1 in 10 children lives with a serious mental or emotional disorder. That one person could be a stranger, a neighbor, a friend, a parent or a child.

As part of National Mental Health Month, Ionia County Community Mental Health (ICCMH) is offering two nationally recognized mental health trainings for the community.

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA), a free program available to Ionia County residents and professionals, will be offered May 21-22 at the ICCMH Ionia office. Breakfast and lunch will be provided.

“Mental Health First Aid provides education and combats stigma related to mental illness,” said Leah, MHFA co-trainer and ICCMH staff member said. “It is hoped that those trained in Mental Health First Aid will have increased confidence in how to respond to someone who is experiencing mental health issues.”

Participants can expect to leave knowing how to recognize symptoms of mental health problems, how to offer and provide initial help, and how to assist a person in receiving the right treatments.

To learn more about this statewide initiative, visit www.michigan.gov/mentalhealthfirstaid.

Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S., according to NAMI. ICCMH has been offering a way to combat this alarming number in the community by training people in Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST). This evidenced-based curriculum has been used in training with the Armed Forces, law enforcement, pastors, health care professionals, school personnel and others.

“ASIST allows anyone who is ready, willing and able to intervene when someone is at risk of suicide,” said Kris Hamilton, ASIST co-trainer and ICCMH program manager. “It teaches intervention skills to other professionals and lay persons in the community when confronted with an individual who is suicidal.”

ASIST training will be offered on May 29-30 at the ICCMH Ionia office. There is no fee for residents and organizations in Ionia County. If you would like to attend the training, but live out of county, there will be an $85 charge. Training materials, breakfast, lunch and refreshments are provided on both days. Continuing education credits are available for nurses, social workers and certified addiction professionals.

The ICCMH Ionia office is located at 375 Apple Tree Drive. To register for Mental Health First Aid, contact Leah Quintanilla at 616-527-1790. To register for ASIST, contact Karen Blonshine at 616-527-1790.